Evolution of female song and duetting in the chaffinch (Fringilla) species complex

Abstract

Female song is ancestral to songbirds and shows considerable phylogenetic signal, but its presence also appears to be labile and correlated with life‐history and ecology. While previous studies have examined the evolution of female song across species‐rich families, here we studied female song in island populations of a recently diverged species‐complex, the chaffinches (genus Fringilla). We show this behaviour has recently evolved in these populations, and probably on two independent occasions. In F. teydea, female song is performed in loose duets with males, while in F. coelebs, female song is produced solo. Populations with singing females showed year‐round territoriality and were found in regions with low seasonality – both factors previously connected with high rates of female singing. To determine the relative saliency of female songs to conspecifics, and the degree to which they instigate territorial defence behaviours, we performed a series of speaker playback experiments. In F. c. canariensis, female song could induce comparable responses to male song, whilst duetting F. teydea playback produced similar responses to solo songs, and therefore may relate to within‐pair communication instead. Our results suggest female song can be a highly labile trait that can evolve over short evolutionary timescales.

Sex differences in singing behaviour are predicted by territoriality and biparental care in songbirds

“…barn swallows, Hirundo rustica 68 ; blue tits, Cyanistes caeruleus 69 ). This might in part occur because female song can take place at different times of the day 69 , times of the year 55 , populations 70 or in different contexts 71 from male song.…”

O papel de machos e fêmeas e a variação temporal na defesa de territórios na choca-de-asa-vermelha (Thamnophilus Torquatus)

“…Ao contrário do que se pensava inicialmente, em algumas espécies de aves as fêmeas também emitem vocalizações, cantos e chamados, e, consequentemente, participam da defesa territorial, juntamente com os machos ou de maneira individual (Boiten, 2023;Mikula, 2020;Morton;Derrickson, 1996). Por exemplo, um estudo realizado com aves do gênero Fringilla, pertencentes à ordem Passeriformes, observou que as fêmeas defendem o território durante todo o ano (Cooper;Garcia-Del-Rey;Lachlan, 2023). Por outro lado, um estudo com o tiranídeo Myrmeciza longipes demonstrou que, apesar da defesa conjunta do território ocorrer ao longo de todo o ano, a escassez sazonal de recursos favorece uma maior agressividade por parte de ambos os sexos, especialmente quando ocorre a invasão do território (Fedy;Stutchbury, 2005).…”